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2010 Chevrolet Impala problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
46%
156 of 339 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 102 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 35%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Impala have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 156 of 339 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Impala concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under engine (88). For comparison, the 2011 scores 41%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
156
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
441
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
18 crashes · 12 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM132 · 30%
AIR BAGS102 · 23%
ENGINE88 · 20%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)74 · 17%
POWER TRAIN67 · 15%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL47 · 11%

The years either side

2010
46%
156 of 441
2011
41%
194 of 505
2012
34%
77 of 258
2013
24%
60 of 272
2014
17%
92 of 636
2015
17%
41 of 300
2016
54%
455 of 890
2017
37%
34 of 116
2018
33%
17 of 59
2019
36%
8 of 28
2020
too few complaints
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala

What one owner reported

ENGINE05/14/2021CRASH1 INJURED
AUTO TOTALED SEPT 8, 2020. LOST CONSCIENCE WITH TAILPIPE LOOSE AT BACK OF CAT CONVERTER. DIAGNOSED WITH LOW BLOOD SUGAR AT HOSPITAL. SEVERE INJURIES: SPINAL, RIGHT ARM, LEFT LEG. DO NOT REMEMBER ACCIDENT, EVEN TODAY. TOOK DOWN ELECTRIC POLE AND PINE TREE. DO NOT REMEMBER IF WINDOWS OPEN OR CLOSED THAT DAY. MAY H…

One of 156 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: sensor: occupant classification16V507000 · Jul 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 25, 2008 through February 16, 2010. The front passenger seat frame may contact and…
electrical system: ignition14V355000 · Jun 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob…
suspension: front: control arm: lower arm12V377000 · Aug 2012
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Chevrolet Impala police vehicles because the front lower control arms may fracture. This safety recall does not include non-police…
seat belts: front: anchorage10V480000 · Oct 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET IMPALAS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THE…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2010 Chevrolet Impala? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2010 Chevrolet Impala

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Impala have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 156 of 339 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Impala concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala?

No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2010 Chevrolet Impala, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Impala years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Impala years we track, the 2014 (17%), the 2015 (17%) and the 2013 (24%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (46%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2010 Chevrolet Impala?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2010 Chevrolet Impala has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.